Baylor takes down Texas, wins first Big 12 title

Dec 8, 2013 - 3:24 AM
Waco, TX (SportsNetwork.com) - Bryce Petty threw touchdown passes to Antwan
Goodley and Levi Norwood in a decisive third quarter, as No. 9 Baylor earned a
trip to the Fiesta Bowl with a 30-10 decision over No. 23 Texas in the
regular-season finale for both schools at a windy and frigid Floyd Casey
Stadium.

"We're so proud to represent Baylor University at that bowl game. There were
some Tostitos thrown around the locker room," said Baylor head coach Art
Briles. "I thought Bryce was exceptional. Antwan was very determined. Our
offensive line was unbelievable."

Petty ended up 21-of-37 for 287 yards for the Bears (11-1, 8-1 Big 12), who
needed some help to gain the conference crown and a BCS berth in the form of
Oklahoma topping Oklahoma State earlier in the day and got it when the Sooners
shocked the Cowboys in Stillwater.

Glasco Martin carried the ball 22 times for 102 yards and a late touchdown,
while Goodley led all receivers with 114 yards on eight receptions.

Case McCoy was limited to 54 yards and was picked off twice on 12-of-34
efficiency for the Longhorns (8-4, 7-2), who are still bowl bound but
finished the regular season with losses in two of their last three.

Goodley's 11-yard TD reception finished off the Bears' opening drive of the
second half -- a 77-yard progression executed in 14 plays -- and gave the
hosts a 10-3 edge.

The Longhorns went three-and-out on the next series, and it was 17-3 on
Baylor's next touch, as Petty lofted a ball into the end zone for a 6-yard
score to Norwood. That possession was aided by a short punt which gave the
Bears possession on the Texas 47.

"Everyone just knew that we had the Big 12 championship right there and we had
to come out and fight for it and thats what we did," Norwood admitted.

Another short series for Texas ensued, before Aaron Jones was good from 42
yards away to make it 20-3 with 2:47 left in the third.

Texas finally responded on the series, closing within 20-10 on a 2-yard strike
from McCoy to Brown. The Longhorns got a 50-yard punt return from Jaxon
Shipley which set them up on the hosts' 22 to start.

Jones converted a 28-yarder on the next possession and the hosts led once
again by 13 with 9:18 on the clock.

After the teams exchanged punts, McCoy was picked off by K.J. Morton and he
returned the ball all the way to the Longhorns' 3-yard line. An
unsportsmanlike conduct call on Baylor moved it back to the 18, and on the
next snap, Martin reached paydirt for a 30-10 contest.

"I'm disappointed in the loss, obviously," said Texas head coach Mack Brown,
whose future at the post may be in doubt. "I told them they played hard
enough, played tough enough, but we didn't make the plays we needed to make."

Neither team could mount an attack in the first half due to swirling winds,
cold and periods of rain.

Jones drilled a 22-yard field goal to cap Baylor's opening possession, after
the Bears couldn't hit the end zone on 3rd-and-3 from the Texas 5.

Anthony Fera had a 44-yard attempt blocked, but eventually converted from 42
yards away with 4:31 left in the half and the game was deadlocked at the
break.

Game Notes

Baylor has won three of the last four meetings with Texas after the Longhorns
won 12 in a row from 1998 to 2009 ... After posting a program-best 11 wins
this year, the Bears also took home their first conference title since the
Southwestern Conference in 1980 ... Baylor also improved to 15-2 in November
and December over the last three seasons, including a 6-2 mark against ranked
squads ... Thanks to the discrepancy in passing yardage, Baylor assumed a
508-217 edge in total yards.